HYBRID TIMBER 16

"I hate all of this!" Eva whispered with tears in her eyes, but she didn't cry.

“Friend, you made a choice. Susan whispered back, straightening the wedding dress Eva was trying on.

“It's not like I had a lot of options.

“I'm not judging you.

“I know… It's just that you're the only one I can talk to about everything, about all this shit, about him . Her thoughts went to Timber again.

It had been five days since the last meeting with him in the car and it still hurt every time she stopped to think about him, that she preferred to do everything to forget about him. It became known that Vivian had been rescued by the OH (Hybrid Organization.) and now she was suing her entire family, including some who were arrested. She was glad, Timber helped her. Vivian was probably happy in the arms of any male she was related to and just wanted to be as lucky as to be able to have that one day.

She thought it unlikely, but there was a huge possibility that Timber was hating her at this point.

"I wish I were trying on a wedding dress of my choice, to marry the man of my choosing."

— Even that the imbecile did, chose her dress.

- Yea. He picked out all the details for our big wedding celebration as well.

- It's tomorrow. Susan recalled sadly.

- Sadly yes. I don't know why he wants this so quickly.

"Aren't you scared and freaking out?"

“I am, dammit. But if I stop to think about it too much, I'll kill myself.

- And his mother?

“She's doing as well as possible. She refuses to let me accompany her to chemotherapy and spends the rest of the day in bed when she does. I always see blood papers in the trash can and lots of hairs around the house. I bring food, fruit and water in bed for her, but she usually locks the door.

"Did you ever tell her not to do that?" What if she gets sick in there? What's the point of all this shit you're doing?

— You're right, Susan, but I already told her, but she doesn't listen to me.

“But she has to listen. Fuck, I'm disgusted that you're doing all this for her.

— I understand your revolt, you're right. But...

— Excuse me... How was it? the older woman who gave Eva the options Bruce had chosen, asked walking back into the room full of mirrors.

— I loved it, it will be the same. - Eva said opening a wide false smile.

— But that's just the first one you've tried, you've tried the others.

— I'm one of those who bat an eye and if I like it at first, nobody makes me change my mind. It will be this one!

— It turned out perfect my friend, it's exactly like the one in the photo you showed me a while ago, which was the dress of your dreams for the day you got married.

- Yea. - Eva pretended to wipe tears of emotion and the woman broke into a smile.

“I'm glad you found your dream dress here. You are very pretty.

—Thanks, now help me take it off or I won't take it off ever again as I'm so in love. Eva stifled a smile and Susan along with the woman helped her out.

“You're terrible. her friend whispered in her ear.

- Ready. Now there are only final adjustments left and you can pick it up three hours before the wedding.

- Thanks. - Eva put back her jeans and her loose shirt - See you later.

- See you later.

Eva and Susan left the brides' atelier and walked together down the street, an all black car, similar to an SUV that passed by them, the young woman was tense, in the possibility of being Timber, but she knew it wasn't. Even though she had never promised him anything, she knew he must hate her right now.

“I need to go now, but anything, just anything, you call me, all right? Susan said.

“Thank you for being my support right now.

- Ever. I love you. Kiss.

"I love you too, kiss."

Eva watched her friend turn into the street from her house and continued walking back to hers. When he arrived, his mother was sitting on the sofa, in front of the TV, watching an article about the Hybrids and the one who spoke in front of the cameras was Jack Nobel, answering some questions and then, a sensationalist journalist made mocking montages about them.

- Hi Mom. Eva approached her mother and kissed her forehead.

- Hey my love. How was there? Did you choose your dress? I so wanted to go, but I have a headache today...

— It went well, I chose the first one the imbecile ran out of options, he didn't even want to look at the others. He shrugged.

"Eve!" Ruthie scolded her.

"You know very well that I'm doing this out of obligation, just so they can pay for your treatment and because I signed a contract that said that if I didn't keep my word, I should return all the money, which you know, only in years." and years of work would do it, and also, if I don't do it, you go to jail. You are aware of that, are you not? Eva made a point of reminding her mother of that every chance she got.

— I know my love and I am very grateful for that. But you need to make an effort to get along with your future husband, who knows, maybe love will come later?

- Never! He treats me like garbage, I hate and despise him. Eva made a face.

“You must be exaggerating, daughter. — Ruthie didn't care — Look how cool this program is, finally someone saying everything I think about these freaks.

Eva looked at the television and felt as if the insults were on her, when a wave of anger flooded her, she knew that her mother was anti-hybrid , she never agreed with her, but she never argued, but in that moment, after Timber, couldn't keep his mouth shut.

“Why are they freaks? She pressed her eyes and lips into a thin line.

— Animals that walk on two legs and want civil rights like us, even have more perks than us!

"And that makes them freaks?" What crime did they commit? What did they do wrong? — he changed.

— They exist, Eva! Don't talk to your mother like that!

“They exist because people like us, normal humans, did this to them, experiments like they were any piece of living meat! We are guilty, they are victims!

"Are you defending them?! The woman rose from her chair and advanced on Eva, who took a step back.

- I am! They don't deserve this hate they receive, on the contrary, those who did this to them deserve it. Like those idiots at your church!

- How dare you? Shut up, Eva! Get out of my face you ass! Ruthie screamed and Eva gasped.

"You were never like that, mother!" What's happening? I know you're sick but that doesn't justify treating me like that. He never spoke to me like that.

"Leave me alone, you freak advocate!"

She knew she would defend Timber and his people from any idiot who dared to insult them around her.

— I'll leave now, but you have chemotherapy tomorrow at seven in the morning, I'll accompany you in this fourth session since since it started I haven't been able to go because of work, but I'd like to be by your side in this process.

Eva saw her mother pale.

- No! — Realizing that she had sounded a little desperate, Ruthie recapped — I don't want you to see me right now, I look terrible.

“I don't care, you're my mother and I'll be there.

"I'll go alone, Eva, period!"

"Why don't you want me there?" Most people wish they had someone at this delicate time.

“I told you, I don't want someone so close to me to see me so weakened.

An alarm went off in Eva's brain, something she even felt guilty about thinking about, but her mother was strange and avoided her company at the doctor's at all costs. What if she's lying? He needed to delve deeper into his mother's illness and even Bruce's rush to get married so quickly. She'd been made a fool of long enough and if there was even the slightest chance she could get out of the damn deal and throw herself back in Timber's arms, she would.

Even if there was a strong possibility that she was wrong and that it was an illusion of her mind, she was going to scrutinize anything she could about her mother's illness and Bruce's rush to get married.

- He is well. Then I'm going to get some sleep. Eve actually yawned.

— Do it, tomorrow at the end of the afternoon is your wedding and I don't want you to waste your time with me at the doctor.

- Anything call me.

Ruthie just nodded and Eva went upstairs to her room, locked the door, threw herself on the bed and dialed a message for Susan.

"Am I crazy if I'm thinking my mother is hiding something about her illness?"

The friend quickly visualized and responded.

"How, for example, is she faking an illness, along with Bruce's family, just to arrange this marriage?"

"Yes! I was scared to get the words out themselves, but that's what I think and I feel so guilty for being suspicious of her."

"Stop being silly. We need to find out, when does she have her chemo?"

"Tomorrow at seven in the morning inclusive, I insisted to go with her, but she desperately refused."

"There's something for sure! Meet me at the end of the street fifteen minutes after she leaves tomorrow, I'll get my dad's car and we'll figure it out and maybe relieve her of this burden."

"Combined."

Eva tossed the phone aside and took a deep breath. Her mind was back on Timber, she remembered his arms, his touch, his kisses and her heart sped up and heat ran through her body. The image of him smiling over a silly joke she'd told that first day, revealing those sharp fangs, the way he looked at her and the way she'd left him, broke her heart. And it was this moment, the only one, where she allowed herself to shed tears, when she was locked in her room and reliving memories with her Hybrid.

She knew she had lost her heart to him.